Stackable liquid container with pour spout

ABSTRACT

A liquid container has formed in its bottom wall an annular recess having a radius from the axial centerline of the container equal to the radial distance from centerline of a pour spout mounted in the top wall of the container. A carrying handle is mounted on the top wall, having a height which, added to the depth of the recess, equals the height of the pouring spout above the top wall. When these containers are stacked, the upper can is supported by the handle of the bottom can and by the pouring spout of the bottom can extending into the recess in the bottom wall of the upper can and bearing against its floor.

United States Patent [191 Leccese Aug. 27, 1974 Primary Examiner-Stanleyl-l. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond [57] ABSTRACT A liquidcontainer has formed in its bottom wall an annular recess having aradius from the axial centerline of the container equal to the radialdistance from centerline of a pour spout mounted in the top wall of thecontainer. A carrying handle: is mounted on the top wall, having aheight which, added to the depth of the recess, equals the height of thepouring spout above the top wall. When these containers are stacked, theupper can is supported by the handle of the bottom can and by thepouring spout of the bottom can extending into the recess in the bottomwall of the upper can and bearing against its floor.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures STACKABLE LIQUID CONTAINER WITH POUR SPOUTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to liquid containersand more particularly to stackable liquid containers having a protrudingpour spout.

Containers for the storage and dispensing of liquids are preferablyprovided with a closed top to protect the liquid from evaporation andcontamination. To facilitate dispensing of the liquid from thecontainer, it is convenient to provide a scalable spout through whichthe liquid may be poured. It is desirable that this spout protrude abovethe top surface of the container a sufficient distance so that theliquid, when poured from the container, will clear the top peripheraledge of the container so as not to drip down its sides.

Containers, most notably, gasoline containers are known which include athreaded nipple mounted axially in and extending above and below the capthat seals the pouring spout of the container. A flexible pouring tubeis provided which may be threaded onto the portion of the threadednipple extending above the top of the cap. The liquid in the can maythen be poured from the container through the flexible pouring tube.When not in use or when the container is being shipped or stored, thepouring tube is reversed and is threaded onto the portion of thethreaded nipple which extends below the cap into the container.

Numerous other arrangements have been proposed but they all include ahandle and pouring spout having a portion which protrudes above the topsurface of the can. The pouring spout and the handle are necessary forthe convenient use of the container but invariably contributedisadvantages, explained below, which this invention is designed toeliminate.

In retail stores, the storage and display of bulky items is a seriousproblem. The difficulty, applying especially to low cost bulky itemssuch as gasoline containers, is essentially that the ratio of thepercentage of the stores profits contributed by sales of these items, tothe percentage of the stores available storage capacity taken by theseitems is comparatively low. As a consequence, most small retail storesorder gasoline containers in small quantities, which leads to efflciencyin the operations of the manufacturing of the container.

Another feature of gasoline containers which exacerbates the storageproblem is the inability of these gasoline containers to be stacked instable vertical stacks. It is thus necessary to display them on thefloor or on shelves in single layers. This display technique is known tobe less attractive than the more effective technique of massed displayin which large numbers of items to be sold are assembled and stackedcompactly in a large mass. Such an effective display technique is notpossible for existing gasoline containers because no provision is madefor stacking these containers.

The most popular design for gasoline containers over the one galloncapacity is the cylindrical form. This is the most efficient form tobuild liquid containers in terms of capacity per unit area of sheetmetal and also provides the strongest and most easily manufactured formfor large containers. It also facilitates the use of the dome top whichis desirable because of its properties of shedding water. When acontainer having a dome top is left out in the rain, only a small amountof water will collect around the rim of the can where the dome top iscrimped to the edge of the can. This largely eliminates the danger thatthe contents of the can will become contaminated with water when the canis opened, and eliminates the necessity of breaking ice off the top ofthe can in cold weather.

The dome top however, desirable as the above fea tures may be, makesmore difficult the problems of stacking. It has been found that attemptsto stack gasoline containers having dome tops, even by stackingvertically adjacent layers horizontally offset so that the rim of thecontainers rest on the rims of several vertically adjacent containers isunreliable because it requires extreme accurate placement of all levelsof containers on display and any movement of any of the lower containersin the display will collapse the display.

There has, therefore, long been a need for a liquid container, in theart, having a pouring spout and a handle, that is stackable in stablevertically aligned stacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention provides a liquidcontainer having a top mounted handle and pouring spout which may bestacked in stable vertically aligned stacks.

The bottom wall of the container is provided with a recess verticallyaligned with the pouring spout. The vertical dimension of the top of thepouring spout above the bottom wall of the container is equal to theheight of the handle above the top wall plus the depth of the recess inthe bottom of the container. This design provides a stable three pointsupport for the containers in the stack in that the pouring spout of thelower container protrudes into and bears against the floor of theannular recess in the bottom wall of the vertical adjacent uppercontainer, and the handle supports its bottom horizontally and parallelto the bottoms of the other containers in the stack.

IN THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and itsmany attendant advantages will develop as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. I is an elevation, partly in section, of a container according tothis invention, and a partial view of a similar container stacked withthe first container; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A stackable gasoline can isshown having a cylindrical wall 10 to which is crimped a bottom 12 and atop 14. A pouring spout l6 and a vent 18 are hermetically connected tothe top 14 of the can. The top 14 is slightly domed or bulged outwardlyto form a convex surface which will prevent water from collecting aroundthe pouring spout 16 or the vent 18. A handle 20 is connected to theaxial center of the top 14 for carrying the container.

The pouring spout 16 includes a ferrule 22 outwardly flanged at itsbottom edge 24. The ferrule 22 fits through an opening 26 in the top 14of the container.

The interior diameter of the opening 26 is substantially the same as theexterior diameter of the ferrule 22. The ferrule 22 is inserted throughthe opening 26 from the underside and the edges of the opening arecrimped to the ferrule flange 24. A sealing compound is applied to thesurfaces of the ferrule flange 24 and the edges of the opening 26 beforecrimping to assure a fluid tight seal of the pouring spout 16 in the top14.

The ferrule 22 is exteriorly threaded at its top end for receiving aninteriorly threaded cap 28. A nipple 30, formed of an exteriorlythreaded top portion 32 and an identical exteriorly threaded bottomportion 34, is secured in the top of the cap 28. The top and bottomportions 32 and 34 of the nipple 30 are soldered in an axial hole in thecap 28. A small shoulder is formed in the top of the cap 28.around theedge of the axial hole, and the two pieces 32 and 34 of the nipple 30are flanged at their unthreaded end to mate with the shoulder in the cap28. The two pieces 32 and 34 of the nipple 30 are positioned with theirflanges abutting in the shoulder of cap 28, and solder is flowed intothe shoulder to secure the nipple 30 hermetically in the top 20.

A flexible pouring tube 36 is provided having at one end an exteriorlythreaded connector 38 and at the other end an interiorly threadedconnector 40. The threads on the connector 40 are dimensioned such as tomate with the threads on both top and bottom portions of the nipple 30.A cap 42 having a maximum diameter W is provided with interior threadingto mate with the threaded connector 38 of the flexible pouring tube 36and also with the exteriorly threaded end of the top portion 32 of thenipple 30. It is thus possible to store the flexible pouring tube 36within the container by threading the threaded connector 40 onto thebottom portion 34 of the nipple 30, and threading the cap 42 onto thetop portion 32 of the nipple 30. Alternatively, the container may bestored with the threaded connector 40 screwed to the upper end 32 of thenipple 30 and the cap 42 screwed to the threaded connector 38 of theflexible pouring tube 36.

The vent 18 includes a plastic plug 44 having a peripheral groove 46 andan axial bore 48 formed therein. A vent cap 50 is connected integrallywith the vent plug by means of a flexible tether 52. A peripheral groove54 is formed in the top of the vent plug 44 and receives an inwardlyprotruding lip 56 formed on the vent cap 50 to seal the axial bore 48when liquids are not being dispensed from the can. A vent such as thisis made by American Flange Company and sold under the trademarkPOLYVENT."

The handle 20 includes a thick wire link 60 fastened to the top 14 ofthe can by a metal plate 62 having a central channel 64 formed in itsunderside for accommodating a portion of the link 60 which rests underthe plate 62. The plate 62 is fastened to the top of the can byprojection welding or conventional fastening techniques.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the link 60 runs through a gripper 68 and thenconverges inwardly. Both ends 66 are bent inward and extend into thechannel in the plate 62. The gripper 68 is generally in an hour glassform having a central portion which is smaller in exterior diameter thanthe exterior diameter T of the two extreme ends. This design provides acomfortable and secure grip for the hand and also provides two points ofa three point support between stacked containers, as will be moreclearly explained below. The radial distance of the two ends of thegripper 68 from the axial centerline of the container is less than theradial distance of the centerline of the pouring spout from the axialcenterline of the container.

Looking again at FIG. 1, the bottom 12 of the container is flat andcrimped to the bottom edge of the side wall 10 to provide a lowerannular rim 70 on which the container rests when placed on the floor. Anannular recess 72 having a depth D is formed in the flat surface of thebottom 12 concentric with the axial centerline of the container. Theannular recess 72 has an inner vertical wall 74, an outer vertical wall76 and a floor 78 connecting the walls 74 and 76. The radius of theouter wall 76 is greater than the radius of the inner wall 74 by anamount slightly more than the maximum diameter W of the cap 42. Themedian radius of the recess 72 is substantially equal to the radialdistance of the centerline of the pouring spout 16 from the axialcenterline of the container. In this way, when two containers arevertically aligned, the cap 42 on the pouring spout of the lowercontainer will fit into the annular recess in the bottom wall of theupper container regardless of the angular orientation of one containerwith respect to the other.

To achieve a stable stack, it is necessary that each container besupported by its lower adjacent neighbor at at least three points. Inthe design of this invention the three points are provided by thecontact of the top of the pouring spout against the floor 78 of theannular recess 72 in the above container and by the two ends of thegripper 68 against the flat bottom 12 of the next higher container. Itis also necessary, in a stable stack, to support all the containers inthe stack as nearly horizontal as possible, that is, with their bottomsparallel and horizontal. This is achieved by making the extremediametrical thickness T of the gripper 68 at its ends, plus the depth Dof the annular recess 72 substantially equal to the height of the cap 42on the pouring spout 16 above the top wall of the container. To put itanother way, assuming the can is resting on a horizontal surface, theheight of the topmost surface of the gripper 68 is equal to the heightof the top of the cap 42 on the pouring spout 16 less the depth D of therecess 72.

Because the bottom container in a stack of containers must support thestack above it, the domed top must be formed sufficiently strong toresist inwardly bowing under weight of the stack. If the top were to bowinwardly it would cause the stack to tip and possibly collapse andtherefore the design must provide the strength to resist this bowing.This strength is provided by the semi-dome design or slight convexity ofthe top outward and this outward convexity of the top enables thelowermost can in the stack to resist the forces acting thereon as wellas to shed water and keep the top dry as explained previously.

The annular recess 72 strengthens the bottom of the container to resistthe weight exerted by other containers in the stack and eliminatestroublesome defects which have been common in large capacity liquidcontainers. Under the weight of liquid in a large capacity container thebottom has heretofore bowed downwardly below the peripheral rim of thecan, so that the can rests on its bottom rather than its rim. Thiscauses the can to tip easily and also causes the bottom of the can towear rapidly, especially when the can is stored on rough and abrasivesurfaces such as concrete. The annular recess 72 also provides aconvenient and comfortable handhold for use in pouring: one hand holdsthe handle and the other hand is wrapped around the rim with the fingersextending into the recess 72. This is especially useful when thecontainer is almost empty and must be tipped nearly on its side, thatis, with the axial centerline disposed horizontally.

Thus, there has been described a liquid container having a top pouringspout and handle which can be displayed and stored in vertical stacks.Vertical support for the containers in the stack is provided byinteracting cooperation of the annular recess on the bottom and thespout and handle on the top of the next lower adjacent container on thestack. The design also provides a strengthened top for accommodating theincreased forces acting on the containers in the display and also astrengthened bottom for resisting the weight of the other containers inthe stack and also for supporting the weight of the liquid in a fullcontainer to prevent downward bowing and contact of the bottom of thecontainer with the surface on which it is rested.

Obviously numerous modifications and variations of the above describedpreferred embodiment of the invention defined in the application claimsare possible in view of the foregoing contained herein and the priorart. It is to be expressly understood that this invention may bepracticed in other ways than as claimed in this application but stillremaining within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stackable liquid container, comprising:

a sidewall having an axial centerline and a top edge and a bottom edge;

a top wall having a peripheral edge crimped to the top edge of saidsidewall and forming therewith a top peripheral rim;

a bottom wall having a peripheral edge crimped to the bottom edge ofsaid sidewall and forming therewith a bottom peripheral rim;

a pouring spout mounted in said top wall extending vertically beyondsaid top peripheral rim and having a centerline spaced from saidsidewall centerline a distance R, said pouring spout extending adistance H above said top wall;

a cap mountable on said pouring spout;

a hand grip connected to said top wall and having a thickness T;

means in said bottom wall defining a downwardly opening recess having adepth D =H Tand a horizontal area at least encompassing a horizontalarea equal to the horizontal area of said cap and radially disposed insaid bottom wall a distance R from said sidewall centerline such that,when two of said stackable liquid containers are vertically stacked withtheir axial centerlines aligned, said pouring spout will protrude intosaid recess and said cap will abut against the floor of said recess toprovide one point of support for the vertically higher liquid container,and the bottom wall of the vertically higher container will rest againstthe hand grip of the vertically lower container providing two additionalpoints of support for the vertically higher container.

2. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 1, wherein said handgrip comprises an hourglass-shaped member tapering from the thickness Tat its two ends to a center thickness less than T.

3. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 2, further comprisinga stout wire link for connecting said hand grip to said top wall, havinga first portion passing axially through said hand grip, a second portionswivelingly connected to said top wall, and a third portion connectingsaid first named two portions.

4. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 1, wherein said topwall is formed with a slight convexity sufficient to raise the center ofthe top wall above said top peripheral rim.

5. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 3, wherein saidsecond portion of said link is connected to said top wall intersectingsaid axial centerline of said container and said third portion of saidlink is shorter than the radius of said recess.

6. A stackable liquid container, comprising:

a cylindrical side wall crimped to a top wall and a bottom wall andforming therewith a top and bottom rim;

means in said bottom wall defining an outwardly opening annular recessconcentric with said side wall;

a pouring spout mounted in said top wall vertically above said recess;

a hand grip connected to said top wall and having a maximum verticalthickness T;

wherein the depth of said recess plus the vertical thickness of saidhandgrip substantially equals the height of said pouring spout abovesaid top wall;

whereby said container may be stacked in an axially aligned stack withanother such container, with the pouring spout of the lower containerextending into and bearing against the floor of the recess in the bottomwall of the upper container, and the handle bearing against the bottomwall of the upper container.

7. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 6, wherein said handgrip comprises an hourglass-shaped member tapering from the thickness Tat its two ends to a center thickness less than T.

8. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 7, further comprisinga stout wire link for connecting said hand grip to said top wall, havinga first portion passing axially through said hand grip, a second portionswivelingly connected to said top wall, and a third portion connectingsaid first named two portions.

9. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 6, wherein said topwall is formed with a slight convexity sufficient to raise the center ofthe top wall above said top peripheral rim.

10. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 8, wherein saidsecond portion of said link is connected to said top wall intersectingsaid axial centerline of said container and said third portion of saidlink is shorter than the radius of said recess.

1. A stackable liquid container, comprising: a sidewall having an axialcenterline and a top edge and a bottom edge; a top wall having aperipheral edge crimped to the top edge of said sidewall and formingtherewith a top peripheral rim; a bottom wall having a peripheral edgecrimped to the bottom edge of said sidewall and forming therewith abottom peripheral rim; a pouring spout mounted in said top wallextending vertically beyond said top peripheral rim and having acenterline spaced from said sidewall centerline a distance R, saidpouring spout extending a distance H above said top wall; a capmountable on said pouring spout; a hand grip connected to said top walland having a thickness T; means in said bottom wall defining adownwardly opening recess having a depth D H - T and a horizontal areaat least encompassing a horizontal area equal to the horizontal area ofsaid cap and radially disposed in said bottom wall a distance R fromsaid sidewall centerline such that, when two of said stackable liquidcontainers are vertically stacked with their axial centerlines aligned,said pouring spout will protrude into said recess and said cap will abutagainst the floor of said recess to provide one point of support for thevertically higher liquid container, and the bottom wall of thevertically higher container will rest against the hand grip of thevertically lower container providing two additional points of supportfor the vertically higher container.
 2. The stackable liquid containerdefined in claim 1, wherein said hand grip comprises an hourglass-shapedmember tapering from the thickness T at its two ends to a centerthickness less than T.
 3. The stackable liquid container defined inclaim 2, further comprising a stout wire link for connecting said handgrip to said top wall, having a first portion passing axially throughsaid hand grip, a second portion swivelingly connected to said top wall,and a third portion connecting said first named two portions.
 4. Thestackable liquid container defined in claim 1, wherein said top wall isformed with a slight convexity sufficient to raise the center of the topwall above said top peripheral rim.
 5. The stackable liquid containerdefined in claim 3, wherein said second portion of said link isconnected to said top wall intersecting said axial centerline of saidcontainer and said third portion of said link is shorter than the radiusof said recess.
 6. A stackable liquid container, comprising: acylindrical side wall crimped to a top wall and a bottom wall andforming therewith a top and bottom rim; means in said bottom walldefining an outwardly opening annular recess concentric with said sidewall; a pouring spout mounted in said top wall vertically above saidrecess; a hand grip connected to said top wall and having a maximumvertical thickness T; wherein the depth of said recess plus the verticalthickness of said handgrip substantially equals the height of saidpouring spout above said top wall; whereby said container may be stackedin an axially aligned stack with another such container, with thepouring spout of the lower container extending into and bearing againstthe floor of the recess in the bottom wall of the upper container, andthe handle bearing against the bottom wall of the upper container. 7.The stackable liquid container defined in claim 6, wherein said handgrip comprises an hourglass-shaped member tapering from the thickness Tat its two ends to a center thickness less than T.
 8. The stackableliquid container defined in claim 7, further comprising a stout wirelink for connecting said hand grip to said top wall, having a firstportion passing axiAlly through said hand grip, a second portionswivelingly connected to said top wall, and a third portion connectingsaid first named two portions.
 9. The stackable liquid container definedin claim 6, wherein said top wall is formed with a slight convexitysufficient to raise the center of the top wall above said top peripheralrim.
 10. The stackable liquid container defined in claim 8, wherein saidsecond portion of said link is connected to said top wall intersectingsaid axial centerline of said container and said third portion of saidlink is shorter than the radius of said recess.